patch

The definition of a patch is a small area that's different from what's around it.

An example of a patch is small area of grass in the middle of a parking lot.

An example of a patch is a red wine stain on white carpet.

Patch means a piece of material used to cover, fix or protect.

An example of a patch is a fabric butterfly sewn over a hole in a pair of jeans.

An example of a patch is what fictional pirate's often wear over one eye.

verb

Patch is defined as to repair or piece together.

An example of patch is fixing the hole in a tent.

patch

a piece of material applied to cover or mend a hole or tear or to strengthen a weak spot

a dressing applied to a wound or sore

a pad or shield worn over an eye, as for protection

a surface area differing from its surroundings in nature or appearance: patches of snow on the ground

a small plot of ground: a potato patch

a small piece of any material; scrap; bit; remnant

beauty spot (sense )

the connection of two circuits, pieces of electronic equipment, etc. with a cable (patch cord) having plugs or clips on each end, specif. such a connection (phone patch) of telephone and radio equipment

shoulder patch

Informal an indefinite period of time that is relatively short and of a specified character: a rough patch in their marriage

Comput. a number of instructions added to a program that has already been translated into machine language, as to correct an error

Pharmacy an adhesive pad containing a drug or hormone that is to be steadily absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream

Origin of patch

Middle English pacche, probably variant, variety of peche, a piece ; from Old French pieche, variant, variety of pece, piece, piece

to put a patch or patches on

to serve as a patch for

to form or make by the use of patches: to patch a quilt

to produce or piece together roughly, crudely, or hurriedly: often with up or together

to connect (electronic circuits, equipment, etc.), as with patch cords

to add (a person) in or into an electronic communication circuit, as for a conference call or radio transmission

to make electronic connections, as with patch cords

patch Idioms

not a patch on

Informal not nearly so good as; not of comparable quality as: the sequel is not a patch on the original movie

patch

A piece of cloth, or other suitable material, sewed or otherwise fixed upon a garment to repair or strengthen it, especially upon an old garment to cover a hole.

His sleeves had patches on the elbows where different fabric had been sewn on to replace material that had worn away.

A small piece of anything used to repair damage or a breach; as, a patch on a kettle, a roof, etc.

I can't afford to replace the roof, which is what it really needs. I'll have the roofer apply a patch.

A repair intended to be used for a limited time; (differs from previous usage in that it is intended to be a temporary fix and the size of the repair is irrelevant).This usage can mean that the repair is temporary because it is an early but necessary step in the process of properly, completely repairing something,

Before you can fix a dam, you have to apply a patch to the hole so that everything can dry off.or that it is temporary because it is not meant to last long or will be removed as soon as a proper repair can be made, which will happen in the near future.

"This patch should hold until you reach the city," the mechanic said as he patted the car's hood.

A small, usually contrasting but always somehow different or distinct, part of something else (location, time, size);

The world economy had a rough patch in the 1930s.

The storms last summer washed away parts of the road so we can expect some rough patches up ahead.

To me, a normal cow is white with black patches, but Sarah's from Texas and most of the cows there have solid brown, black, or red coats.

Doesn't that patch of clouds looks like a bunny?

I lost my locket in this patch of grass here.

When ice skating, be sure to stay away from reeds, there's always thin patches of ice there and you could fall through.

I never get first place because on track eight, right after you pass the windmill, there's a patch of oil in the road that always gets me.

A small piece of black silk stuck on the face or neck to heighten beauty; an imitation beauty mark.

Alternatively, perhaps a variant of Middle English pece (“piece"), from Old French pieche (“piece"), from Vulgar Latin *pettia, probably from Gaulish pettsi (“piece, bit"). Compare also Old ProvenÃ§al petaÃ§ (“patch").

patch - Computer Definition

A quick, unscheduled fix for a bug, security hole, or other deficiency or defect in a program. Patches are incorporated into subsequent program upgrades. See also bug, bug fix, update, and upgrade.

A modification (noun) of software or to modify (verb) software. In the past, a patch used to mean changing actual executable, machine instructions, but today more often than not, it means replacing an executable module in its entirety such as an .EXE or .DLL file. A profusion of patches to an application implies that its logic was poorly designed in the first place.
Although the term typically refers to fixing a problem, a patch may also refer to a general enhancement because the two scenarios have become blurred. For example, a security "enhancement" is often a fix for a vulnerability in the program. In addition, software vendors like to announce something new in an update other than just fixing problems. Therefore, applying patches often refers to both fixes and new features. See patch management and spaghetti code. See also MIDI patch.